People don’t take trips, trips take people - Antoine 08

“Yes dear”, Monique replied giggling, “you know a place people go to eat”.

Rolling his eyes, Antoine looked over at Lily hoping she was going to make up an excuse telling her mother they couldn't possibly go couldn’t go but instead, all he got was a shrug of her shoulders and a weak smile.

“What time do you finish here, Brie”? Monique asked.

“We're closing at five, but we’ll need to pack up and take the stock back to my place after, so it will probably be more like 6 or 7, by the time we're actually done”, Brie answered cheerfully.

“Perfect, I’ll book a table for 8 then, give you two a chance change, you will come with us, won’t you Brie”? Monique stated matter-of-factly.

“Um, well, I guess I don’t have any plans tonight, but I wouldn’t want to intrude”, Brie responded.

“Nonsense dear”, Monique announced loudly, “you wouldn’t be intruding, we’d love to have you with us, right, Lily”?

“Of course, Mama”, Lily quickly replied, not wanting to upset her friend as Antoine shot her a look.

“Well, that’s settled then, I’ll send you a text later to confirm the booking”, Monique said, leaning in to give Lily a kiss goodbye, before looking over at Antoine who had a worried look on his face, “Is everything alright, dear? You look a little pale”, she asked.

“Oh, yes, I’m fine Monique, just a little hot”, Antoine replied, quickly making up an excuse.

“Well, let’s get you some air then shall we, it is a little stuffy in here, say your goodbyes Zara, and we’ll head out”. Monique replied.

Brie stepped forward and gave Antoine a hug, “great to finally meet you Zara”, she said, “I’ll see you later tonight then I guess, and thanks once again for purchasing one of my designs, those shoes look great on you”.

Antoine gave her an awkward smile as Lily stepped forward to hug him, “I’m sorry, baby, just go with it ok? I love you, everything is going to be alright”, she whispered in his ear.

With the goodbyes over with, and after a final wave, it was time to leave and as Antoine walked out by Monique's side,  he couldn't help but worry what Monique had in store for him, the rest of the afternoon.

Two hours later, with the events of the last few hours racing through his mind, Antoine sat on the street, outside a little patisserie, feeling extremely self-conscious on full display as strangers walked by, and glanced over at their table. He folded his arms across his lap to make himself look smaller and cover up the fact he was now wearing a flimsy little skirt.

(See image 12)

After leaving Brie’s store, Monique had guided Antoine around the city on another shopping spree, as he followed along miserably, feeling completely lost and out of his comfort zone amongst all the different styles and brands of clothes, he was supposed to be an expert on. 

Not wanting to blow his cover or embarrass himself Antoine had just let Monique take charge, and very happy to do so, she had proceeded to make him try on and eventually purchase, almost everything she liked the look of. 

The outfit he now wore, as he sat there staring down at his coffee cup, was entirely different from the one he had worn when he left the house that morning.  The first thing to go was his woolly jumper, having been replaced with a lightweight cream coloured blouse after Monique insisted he needed something cooler to wear, as it was probably the reason, he was feeling so hot earlier.

After that first purchase, the flood gates had opened as Monique continued to buy him item after item, not taking no for an answer, all the purchased items, so many, Antoine struggled to remember half of them, now sat in shopping bags, in the back of Monique’s car as he wondered how much money she had spent on him that day, buying things he didn’t want.

“So, Zara, how did it go on your date last night”? Monique asked surprising Antoine with the question as he almost spilt his coffee.

Placing his cup down on the table, he tried to look unfazed, “uh, yeah fine”, he stated.

“What! that’s all I get, just a fine”, Monique replied forcefully.

“Well we went out for dinner and then to a bar, it was pretty fun I guess”, Antoine replied telling the truth.

“So, you like him them, what was his name, Pedro, right”?

Antoine felt really uncomfortably with the line of questioning, “he’s a nice guy”, but I think we’ll just be friends”, he replied again telling the truth.

“Oh, what a shame, but I’m sure the right man for you is out there somewhere, stay positive Zara, you'll find him”, Monique said reassuringly.

“Thanks, Monique, but really, it's not a big deal”, he replied, not able to look her in the eyes, “boys aren't really my top priority right now”.

“Good for you, Zara, I like a strong independent woman, who knows who she is and doesn’t need a man to define her”, Monique replied picking up her coffee and taking a sip, as Antoine sat there smiling awkwardly.

“So, talking of men, is my Lily, seeing anyone, right now”? Monique probed.

Antoine quickly picked up his own coffee and took a long slurp to give himself some thinking time. He didn’t know how to answer, he knew from what Lily told him, she was forbidden from bringing men back to the apartment, hell, that was the whole reason he was currently sat crossdressed in the middle of the day, sipping coffee, but on the other hand, he could use the opportunity to tell Monique that Lily was seeing a great guy called Antoine, and sing his own praises.

He really didn't know which option to choose as he couldn't help but think the question was some sort of test, “Zara, did you hear me”? Monique asked as Antoine stared blankly into space.

“Uh, yeah, sorry, Lily, right,  no she’s single, too focussed on her career to see anyone right now”, Antoine answered, hoping he had made the right choice.

Monique smiled, “She’s a good girl, my Lily, I really I brought her up right" she said happily, " I’m so glad she isn’t wasting her time with some loser and is focussing on her career”, she added as Antoine nodded along, “thank you, Zara, that’s put me in a really good mood, come on drink up, time to go”.

Antoine again forced himself to smile, feeling deflated by Monique's response, he knew now, not only would Monique never accept him dating her daughter, but he would also have to leave his comfortable seat, get back onto his tired legs and go god knows where, “where are we going Monique, more shipping”? Antoine asked.

“No, dear, I think we’ve shopped enough for one day, I have something else in mind, call it a bit of a treat for keeping me company today”, Monique replied patting him on the back of his hand.

Antoine stood up and straightened his skirt, feeling the thin fabric brush against his smooth thighs and looked down at his cute red toenail, poking through the peephole of his new wedge sandals, which he knew, would soon be causing him discomfort once again.

“Ready, dear”? Monique asked.

Antoine nodded as once again he stepped out into the unknown, one tiny mincing step at a time.

(See image 13)